Microstructural Changes in Casein Micelles during Acidification of Skim Milk

Pasteurized skim milk was acidified using glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) at 10, 20, 30, and 40°C or with 1.2% freeze-dried yogurt starter culture at 40°C. Milk coagulation was followed by measuring turbidity, curd firmness, particle size, and casein micelle microstructural changes using transmission electron microscopy . The pH of milk was gradually lowered during acidification with GDL or starter culture. Acidification rate showed greater influence on turbidity change at 10°C than at 20, 30, or 40°C. Average casein micelle size increased with decreasing temperature. The patterns of average micelle size versus pH were not affected by temperature. No great variation of average micelle size was observed above pH 5.2. Below pH 5.0 the size increased exponentially as the milk gelled. Acidification rate did not influence average micelle size at 10°C. Acidification rate, types of acidifying agents, and temperature had no effect on the Formagraph gelation pH and the rate at which curd firmness developed. Casein micelles became less compact and less distinct with decreasing temperature before acidification. As pH was lowered, protein was dissociated from and then reassociated with casein micelles. Acidification rate had no effect on microstructure change of casein micelles at 10°C

On the Mechanism of CDOs behind the Current Financial Crisis and Mathematical Modeling with Levy Distributions

This paper aims to reveal the mechanism of Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) and how CDOs extend the current global financial crisis. We first introduce the concept of CDOs and give a brief account of the de- velopment of CDOs. We then explicate the mechanism of CDOs within a concrete example with mortgage deals and we outline the evolution of the current financial crisis. Based on our overview of pricing CDOs in various existing random models, we propose an idea of modeling the random phenomenon with the feature of heavy tail dependence for possible implements towards a new random modeling for CDOs

An evolution strategy of GAN for the generation of high impedance fault samples based on Reptile algorithm

In a distribution system, sparse reliable samples and inconsistent fault characteristics always appear in the dataset of neural network fault detection models because of high impedance fault (HIF) and system structural changes. In this paper, we present an algorithm called Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) based on the Reptile Algorithm (GANRA) for generating fault data and propose an evolution strategy based on GANRA to assist the fault detection of neural networks. First, the GANRA generates enough high-quality analogous fault data to solve a shortage of realistic fault data for the fault detection model’s training. Second, an evolution strategy is proposed to help the GANRA improve the fault detection neural network’s accuracy and generalization by searching for GAN’s initial parameters. Finally, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is considered as the identification fault model in simulation experiments to verify the validity of the evolution strategy and the GANRA under the HIF environment. The results show that the GANRA can optimize the initial parameters of GAN and effectively reduce the calculation time, the sample size, and the number of learning iterations needed for dataset generation in the new grid structures

The value of diffusion-weighted imaging in assessing the ADC changes of tissues adjacent to breast carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To define a threshold value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with which malignant breast lesions can be distinguished from benign lesions, and to evaluate the ADC change of peri-tumor tissue in breast carcinoma by echo planar-diffusion weighted imaging (EPI-DWI).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>57 breast lesions were scanned by routine MRI and EPI-DWI. The ADC values were compared between malignant and benign lesions. The sensitivity and specificity of EPI-DWI and the threshold ADC value were evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC). The ADC values of malignant lesion and layered peri-tumor tissues (from innermost layer 1 to outermost layer 4 with 5 mm every layer) in different directions were compared and the ADC values among different layers were compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The ADC value of 35 malignant lesions was statistically lower than that of 22 benign lesions (P < 0.05). In ROC curve, the threshold value was 1.24 +/- 0.25*10E-3 mm²/s (b = 500) or 1.20 +/- 0.25*10E-3 mm²/s (b = 1000). The ADC value of malignant lesions was statistically lower than that of peri-tumor tissues in different directions (P < 0.05). For peri-tumor tissues, the ADC values increased gradually from layer 1 to layer 4 and there was a significant difference between the ADC values of layer 1 and layer 2 (P < 0.05); while from layer 2 outwards, there was no statistical difference among different layers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ADC value was a sensitive and specific parameter that could help to differentiate benign and malignant breast lesions. ADC changes in tissues adjacent to breast carcinoma could be detected by EPI-DWI, which made EPI-DWI a promising method for helping to determine surgical scope of breast carcinoma.</p

Atrasentan and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (SONAR): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Short-term treatment for people with type 2 diabetes using a low dose of the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan reduces albuminuria without causing significant sodium retention. We report the long-term effects of treatment with atrasentan on major renal outcomes. Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at 689 sites in 41 countries. We enrolled adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)25–75 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 of body surface area, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)of 300–5000 mg/g who had received maximum labelled or tolerated renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 4 weeks. Participants were given atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily during an enrichment period before random group assignment. Those with a UACR decrease of at least 30% with no substantial fluid retention during the enrichment period (responders)were included in the double-blind treatment period. Responders were randomly assigned to receive either atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily or placebo. All patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine (sustained for ≥30 days)or end-stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 sustained for ≥90 days, chronic dialysis for ≥90 days, kidney transplantation, or death from kidney failure)in the intention-to-treat population of all responders. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01858532. Findings: Between May 17, 2013, and July 13, 2017, 11 087 patients were screened; 5117 entered the enrichment period, and 4711 completed the enrichment period. Of these, 2648 patients were responders and were randomly assigned to the atrasentan group (n=1325)or placebo group (n=1323). Median follow-up was 2·2 years (IQR 1·4–2·9). 79 (6·0%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 105 (7·9%)of 1323 in the placebo group had a primary composite renal endpoint event (hazard ratio [HR]0·65 [95% CI 0·49–0·88]; p=0·0047). Fluid retention and anaemia adverse events, which have been previously attributed to endothelin receptor antagonists, were more frequent in the atrasentan group than in the placebo group. Hospital admission for heart failure occurred in 47 (3·5%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 34 (2·6%)of 1323 patients in the placebo group (HR 1·33 [95% CI 0·85–2·07]; p=0·208). 58 (4·4%)patients in the atrasentan group and 52 (3·9%)in the placebo group died (HR 1·09 [95% CI 0·75–1·59]; p=0·65). Interpretation: Atrasentan reduced the risk of renal events in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease who were selected to optimise efficacy and safety. These data support a potential role for selective endothelin receptor antagonists in protecting renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of developing end-stage kidney disease. Funding: AbbVie

Dispersion of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Stabilized by Humic Acid in Sustainable Cement Composites

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are promising nanoreinforcing materials for cement-based composites due to their superior material properties. Dispersion of MWCNTs is key for achieving the most effective way of enhancing efficiency, which is challenging in an alkaline cementitious environment. In this study, humic acid (HA) was used to stabilize the degree of dispersion of MWCNTs in an alkaline environment. The efficiency of HA in stabilizing MWCNT dispersion in cement composites was characterized using an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The influences of HA on the workability and mechanical properties of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) reinforced with MWCNTs were evaluated, and the results revealed that the addition of HA can improve the stability of MWCNT dispersion in an alkaline environment. A concentration of 0.12 wt.% HA/S added to MWCNT suspensions was found to perform the best for improving the dispersion of MWCNTs. The addition of HA results in a decreased workability of the OPC pastes but has little influence on the strength performance. HA can affect the mechanical properties of OPC reinforced with MWCNTs by influencing the dispersion degree of the MWCNTs. An optimum range of HA (0.05&ndash;0.10 wt.%) is required to achieve the optimum reinforcing efficiency of MWCNTs

Experimental Study on the Characteristics of Fire Smoke Movement in Ultra Thin and Tall Atriums by Hot Smoke Test

The characteristics of smoke natural filling in ultra thin and tall atriums were investigated by hot smoke test method. For the fire located on the atrium ground, the smoke touched the side wall first and then extended both upwards and downwards. The smoke plume rising velocity variation can be divided into four stages, different from the normal law in large spaces. In the very early stage of natural filling, the smoke concentration near the height of wall touching point was highest and maintained at a high level in the whole process. The linear trend of temperature increasing in plume center above the height of touching point was broken, far less than the theoretical predictions, which verified the enhancement effect of boundary heat exchange caused by plume restriction. The variation tendencies of smoke density and temperature were similar during the hot smoke test,and there existed a good linear relation between these two parameters. The height-width ratio was calculated as 3.2 averagely by the test results when smoke plume would likely touch atrium walls, and it was very close to the theoretically derived value. This ratio can be used as the definition condition for ultra thin and tall atriums

Experimental Study on the Characteristics of Fire Smoke Movement in Ultra Thin and Tall Atriums by Hot Smoke Test

The characteristics of smoke natural filling in ultra thin and tall atriums were investigated by hot smoke test method. For the fire located on the atrium ground, the smoke touched the side wall first and then extended both upwards and downwards. The smoke plume rising velocity variation can be divided into four stages, different from the normal law in large spaces. In the very early stage of natural filling, the smoke concentration near the height of wall touching point was highest and maintained at a high level in the whole process. The linear trend of temperature increasing in plume center above the height of touching point was broken, far less than the theoretical predictions, which verified the enhancement effect of boundary heat exchange caused by plume restriction. The variation tendencies of smoke density and temperature were similar during the hot smoke test,and there existed a good linear relation between these two parameters. The height-width ratio was calculated as 3.2 averagely by the test results when smoke plume would likely touch atrium walls, and it was very close to the theoretically derived value. This ratio can be used as the definition condition for ultra thin and tall atriums

Stabilizing effect of methylcellulose on the dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in cementitious composites

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been added in the plain cementitious materials to manufacture composites with the higher mechanical properties and smart behavior. The uniform distributions of MWCNTs is critical to obtain the desired enhancing effect, which, however, is challenged by the high ionic strength of the cement pore solution. Here, the effects of methylcellulose (MC) on stabilizing the dispersion of MWCNTs in the simulated cement pore solution and the viscosity of MWCNT suspensions werestudied. Further observations on the distributions of MWCNTs in the ternary cementitious composites were conducted. The results showed that MC forms a membranous envelope surrounding MWCNTs, which inhibits the adsorption of cations and maintains the steric repulsion between MWCNTs; thus, the stability of MWCNT dispersion in cement-based composites is improved. MC can also work as a viscosity adjuster that retards the Brownian mobility of MWCNTs, reducing their re-agglomerate within a period. MC with an addition ratio of 0.018 wt.% is suggested to achieve the optimum dispersion stabilizing effect. The findings here provide a way for stabilizing the other dispersed nano-additives in the cementitious composites